Sept 7, 2006

I had not set my intent to do a retrieval, other than to note that I hadn’t done one for awhile.  That night I had a dream that I was out in some suburban yard and an ugly dog walked down the street toward me.  He had his eyes directly on me which made me nervous because I don’t like the boxer breed or even a grey  boxer mix like this one. He had been hit by a car some time previously and the hair was off his rump and leg.  He came up to me and sat, so I assumed his wounds were old enough to have healed. Yuck, I thought to myself, he looks bad enough to be dead.
Not getting it, I tried to think of what vet to call. I didn’t know the neighborhood so I thought I’d better try to get him in my car and drive around to find help. But when I moved toward him he gave a low warning growl. He didn’t look grateful for my help, as have the real stray dogs I’ve worked with. Just then a siren and bell went off and a firetruck came out of a firestation right behind us, so I dodged aside and woke up, wondering what had happened to that poor miserable mutt.

I was getting dressed for the day when it hit me---that was supposed to have been a retrieval!  The growl and the siren were warnings that it was not going well and was an emergency.
The insistence of several on this website saved that poor old dog---Because they keep saying time is not a factor in the afterlife, i quickly bowed my head and asked for helpers to go back with me to retrieve the poor old dog. I was thinking I might need someone dressed as city employees because who else would deal with this animal if he’d been hit again by the firetruck.  They didn’t appear immediately but then one came out from behind either side of me, dressed in coverall uniforms.
Too late I thought the dog won’t like these uniforms.  The dog jumped up sideways and I thought he was going to bolt and run from the uniformed men. But then he turned strangely and I thought he was having spasms of some sort, --but no!  He was happy !  He knew one of the guys and was trying to leap up into his arms. They were both dancing around in happiness at their reunion and then they strode off together down the street. Finally, I felt relieved.

I believe this was a retrieval even though I did it without graciousness or much understanding for the most part. 

Hi betson
i get the impression that this was a test for you to aid you  in overcoming your fear of this dog.
just a thought
all dogs (like kids) are beautiful in the eyes of their parents hehe!
love Cathy